By Zachary Hillstrom
The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
PUEBLO, Colo. — Representatives from local law enforcement and fire departments took to the ice at Pueblo Ice Arena for an intensely competitive hockey game Saturday afternoon, battling for three periods in front of a packed crowd of nearly 900 during the 2nd annual Ice Cup charity game.
The back-and-forth game saw the law enforcement team emerging victorious with a hard-fought 5-3 win over the fire team in an event designed to raise funds for the Pueblo Police Department’s Heroes and Helpers program.
“Heroes and Helpers is a program where we take the monies that are raised through this event and match a police officer up with an underprivileged child,” said Police Chief Troy Davenport.
“That child can go and purchase presents that they normally wouldn’t be able to get, and we always make sure that they walk away with a little something for themselves. So it’s a great way for the officers to connect with the community and, in particular, the youth.”
Programs handed out at the game detailed that in addition to the nearly $6,000 in funds raised for the Heroes and Helpers program at last year’s Ice Cup, 92 new children’s books and 162 brand new toys were collected at the game.
The game featured all of the staples of an action-packed day at the hockey rink, as those in attendance snacked on stadium concessions such as popcorn and pizza while clapping along with music broadcast on the overhead sound system and intently watching the game.
https://www.facebook.com/PuebloPolice/videos/1952988821385516/
The event has been billed as the hockey equivalent of the annual Cops vs. Bikers Toy Bowl — a charity flag football game played each year between police and local motorcycle riders — but the stick skills, puck handling and skating speed of the players competing Saturday gave the event more of a semi-professional atmosphere.
“It was a good game,” Davenport said. “We started off with two points right away and I thought it was going to be a runaway, but then the fire department came back and scored two of their own. So it is in good spirits and in the sense of brotherhood, but it’s also highly competitive. Both sides want to win.”
Hundreds of families came out to the crowded event to support their local first responders, such as the family of Pueblo residents Warren and Sarah Nuckols, who brought their young daughter Cadence and son Braxton to check out the event.
“We’re actually brand new to the Pueblo community,” Sarah Nuckols said. “We just moved here at the beginning of the summer and we found (the Ice Cup) on an event catalogue at the local library, which had a big article about the time and the cause. And when we found out this all goes to the community, we thought it would be a cool event.”
“It is so encouraging that Pueblo shows up,” Davenport said. “Pueblo takes care of Pueblo and those stands being full like they are I think is an endorsement of that. It’s just really good to see them all out here supporting their first responders, law enforcement and the spirit of giving.”
Copyright 2017 The Pueblo Chieftain